ASHLAND, Wis. – The Northland College Softball team was defeated 14-1 by the University of Minnesota, Morris in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play Friday afternoon in Ashland, Wis.
 
The Cougars started the game with a triple to left field. Miraya McFall struck out the next batter, followed by a 6-3-2 double play to get out of the inning tied at zero. In the second inning, UMM gained the lead after a five-run inning followed by nine in the third. In the bottom of the third Mackenzie Backman broke up the perfect game with a single to the pitcher.
 
McFall worked out of the fourth and fifth innings, only seeing six batters going three up three down twice. Hailey Minnema started the fifth inning with a lead-off double to center field. McFall advanced Minnema with Olivia Rowbotham scoring her on a sac fly for the Jills sole run of the game.
 
The LumberJills recorded three hits in the game, all coming from different student-athletes: Minnema, Backman, and Elizabeth Montgomery. Montgomery's hit was her first of the season. Rowbotham picked up an RBI in the contest
 
McFall pitched another complete game, her seventh of the season. Despite UMM putting up 14 runs only one was earned. McFall struck out two batters in the game.
 
The Jills and Cougars conclude the series tomorrow (Saturday) with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.